The Devil's Arithmetic

in the devil's arithmetic how does Rivka's hero conversation relate to the Ba'al Shem Tov story in describing th evil realities of the camp

in the book the devil's aritmetic

Asked by
Last updated by jill d #170087
Answers 1
Add Yours

Chapter 16

I believe this chapter totally relates to the evil realities being experienced in the camp, but the story of Ba'al Shem Tov is Fayge's story...... not Rivka's.

"Fayge begins to speak for the first time in a long time. She tells them the story of the great Jewish hero, Ba’al Shem Tov. His father had told him that the enemy will always be with you, “remember always that your soul is secure to you, for your soul is entire, and that he cannot enter your soul, for your soul is part of God.” (pg. 143) Then, she tells how the young boy led a small band of children against a werewolf who heart was Satan’s. The boy walked right into the werewolf’s body and held its awful heart in his hand. He felt immeasurable pain that began before time and would endure forever, so he took pity on the heart and gave it freedom. He placed it upon the earth and the earth opene and swallowed the black heart into itself. A sigh runs around the barracks at this story and Hannah thinks that they are now in the belly of the werewolf, but she wonders where its dark pain-filled heart is."

Source(s)

Devils-Arithmetic-pinkmonkey-26se2zq.doc